kesling



May 3, 1960 E. G. KESLING 2,935,257

RELEASABLE RESTRAINING DEVICE FOP. ROTATABLE PARTS 0F CALCULATORS FiledJan. 26, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 um um QN mm n www A wm km kil l.. CIA?2R21: C .E

May 3, 1960 E. G. KESLING 2,935,257

RELEASABLE RESTRAINING DEVICE FOP. ROTATABLLE PARTS OF CALCULATORS t L.6. m

FITTO May 3, 1960 E. G. KEsLlNc-z RELEASABLE RESTRAINING DEVICE FOP.ROTATABLE PARTS OF CALCULATORS Filed Jan. 26. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheen I5RELEASABLE REsTRAmINGDEvICE'FoR y Y RorA'rABLE PARTS or CALCULATORSElmer G. VKesling, Richm'ond Heights, Mo. `Application January 26,1955,Serial No. v484,197

9 Claims. '(Cl. 23S- 144) The presentinvention relates generallytoportable `calculators, and more particularlyto a novel means -for vwitha small stylus, pencil, or the like. On the other hand,

means must be provided for preventing overrun-of inter connected dials,or otherwise the addition or subtraction will be in error. Variousdevices `have been employed for such purpose, such as detent'springsmounted concentrically with the dial members and usually disposed inwells provided therefor. Such detent springs have not been foundr to Vbeentirely satisfactory.

Y Therefore, an object ofthe. present invention Vis to provide a novelrestraining or 'detent device for calculator dials-which willeffectively prevent overrunl thereof in the use of the calculator, andyet will not bind to such an extent that simultaneous rotation of all ofthe discs of the calculator becomes diicult or impossible.

Another object is to provide a novel restraining device Vforthe dialmembers of pocket calculators which is automatically released duringreset or zeroing of the rdials to Arelieve stress on the gears duringsuch action.

Another object is to provide a novel restraining device for .the dialmembers of a pocket calculator which is adapted to serve its intendedrestraining purpose for the normal life of the calculator.

Another object is to provide a novel restraining device for the dialmembers of a pocket calculator which requires `no adjustment and nomaintenance in the normal useof ythe calculator once the device isinstalled and the calculator casing is sealed.

Other objects are to provide a novel `restraining device for the dialmembers of a pocket calculator which is inexpensive, which is highlyeffective in accomplishing its intended purposes, which requires noattention from the user of-the calculator, and `which otherwise fulfills`the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from thefollowing description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a six dial pocket calculator incorporatingthe present invention;

` Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional l,view onsubstantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure. 3 is an' enlarged vertical, transverse, crosssectional viewtaken on substantially'the line v3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical, transverse, .cross-sec- `.tional viewtaken on substantially 'theline 4-4. of A'Figure `1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged,xenical,transversefwcrossniteci States Patent()sectional view taken on substantially .theline S-5.,of v.Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken xon substantiallythe line 6--6 of Figure 2;

taken on substantially the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a vertical, longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 11-11 of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of the inside ofthe top portion of thecasing. illustrating detailsthereof;

Figure 13 is avertical, longitudinal, cross-sectionalview taken onsubstantially the line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an enlarged bottom plan view of one of the dial-gearmembers;

Figure l5 is a side elevational view of said dial-gear member;

Figure 16 is a side elevational view of the detent spring releasingmember;

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of an actuating member for movingthe detent spring releasing member;

Figure 18 is a front elevational View of said actuating member; and

Figure 19 is a plan elevational view of a detent spring member.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, 20indicates generally a calculator incorporating the present invention,which is of the typedislclosed in my pending application Serial No.v414,279, vfiled March 5, 1954, and now Patent No. 2,879,939, and

cluding a Yfrusto-conical well 27 receiving a post 2S formed integralwith the top portion 24. Near each post 26, except the one on the right,is a stub post 30 formed integral with the bottom portion 25. The posts26Land 30 are disposed .at an` angle to the plane Yof therbottom of thebottom post 25.

On each post 26 is a composite integral-dial -and gear member 32includingfrom top to bottom a disc dial -33 having numerals onethroughnine and zero about the edge between each pair of which is adialing well 34, a 4disc 36 having ten scallops 37 inthe periphery, adlsc 39 having a transfer linger 40 extending from the periphery thereof(Fig. 15), and a gear 42 having `the lower portion of one tooth cut awayat 43; The members 32 are vat an angle and overlap as is clearly shownin Figure 2.

`On each post 30 is a gear 45 which is in mesh with the adjacent gear 42and which is engageable bylthe transfer finger -40 of therdisc 39 to theright thereof, as is clear from Figure 2.

Adjacent the gears42 and slidable diagonallyv and longitudinally alongthe bottom of the bottom portion 25 is areset member 47 having six setsof four teeth 48 each separated by elongated teeth 49. An integralactuating thumb 4piece Sllrextends through a suitable "opening 51 in thecasing 22 (Figs. 1 and 6). A notch 52 is formed inthe leftend of thereset member 47 for Ybiased positioning engagement thereof with a post53, and an elongated notch 54 having a hooked right end similarlyreceives a post 55, the posts 53 and 55 being formed integralwith thebottom portion 25. A notch 56 is formedfat the'y right end Vof the resetmember 47 to clear the linternalcorner construction of the casing 22. AtensiomspringSTis secured at one end to the post 53 and at the other endto a post 58 integral with the reset member 47'. Stop members 59 formedintegral with the bottom portion 25 limit lateral movement of the resetmember 47.

The bottom portion 25 is formed along the upper edge with three spacedbays 61, defined at vthe top by a horizontal wall segment 62 (Figs.4-11). Within the casing 22 and on each segment 62 are two integralwedges 63 and 64. Formed integral with each wedge 63' and 64 is avertically disposed stub post 65, and between thestub posts 65 andintegral with the wedge 63 is a post 66. The posts 65 and 66 are at thesame angle as the posts 26. A detent spring 67 is mounted on each post66 with a leg V68 engaging each stub post 65 (Figs. 7 and 19). The legslAn actuating member 74 is disposed on the bottom of the bottom portion25 between the two innermost dial and gear members 32 and is movablelaterally of the casing 22 between two guide rails 75 formed integralwith the bottom of the bottom portion 25 (Fig. 6, 9, l1, 17 and 18). Theactuating member 74 includes a main body 76, projections 77 which engagethe ends of the guide rails 75 to limit movement of the actuating member74, and an vupstanding portion 7S having a boss 79 mounted thereon forcentering disposition in an opening 8i) in the central portion of thedetent spring release member 70 (Figs. 4, and 16). The free end of theactuating member 74 is engageable by the reset member 47 (Fig. 6).

A stylus 82 is disposed in the casing 22, being insertable through anopening in the end thereof and having the head ush against the outerwall (Fig. 7). An upstanding abutment 83 integral with the reset member47 is engageable with the end of the stylus 82 for starting removalthereof from the casing 22 upon movement of the reset The top portion 24includes an arcuate opening 85 for each dial 33 through which the wells33 appear (Figs. 1 and 12) Also provided for each dial 33 is an opening86 through which the numbers thereon appear. Depending from the topportion 24 are ramp-shaped bosses 88 and 89 which abut the posts 65 and66 when the casing 22 is sealed to prevent accidental dislodgement ofthe detent springs 67 and legs 68 (Figs. 4, 5, 12 and 13).

Operation The use of the present calculator to add, subtract, and thelike, is conventional. The stylus 82, or a pencil, is

.inserted in a well 34 of the proper dial 33 and the dial 33 is thenrotated in the required direction. Sums or subtractions are transferredto the respective adjacent dial and gear member 32 by the transfer nger40 and the gear 45, as is obvious from the foregoing description.

The legs 68 of the detent spring members 67 remain in engagement withthe scallops 37 of the discs 36 during the normal use ofthe calculatorin adding, subtracting, and the like. The detent spring members 67 arequite light and impress only a very slight drag on the discs 36, so thatthe total of the six pressures does not resultin a heavy drag in therotation of the dial and gear members 32 even with each transfer finger40 is in operative engagement with the adjacent gear 45. However, thelight engagement of the legs 68 with the scallops 37 is suicient toprevent overrunning of the dial and gear'members 32 even when the sameare rapidly rotated.

As is clear from the description above, the legs 68 are freed from thescallops 37 during reset or zeroing of the dial and gear members 32 inorder to eliminate even the small total drag during this operation andto thereby lengthen the life of the gears 42. When the reset member 47is moved into engagement with the gears 42, the actuating member 74 ismoved transversely and toward the spring release member to pivot thesame clockwise, viewing Figures 4 and 5, which, through the medium ofthe upwardly extending segments 71, extends the legs 68 of all threedetent spring members 67 and thereby releases the restraining pressureon the members 32.

It is manifest that there has been provided a releasable restrainingdevice for the dial and gear members of pocket calculators whichfulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor. Preferably, thecomponent parts of the calculator 20 are of plastic material.V

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration andexample. It is also to be understood that changes in form of theelements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalentelements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, arecontemplated as within the scope of the present invention which islimited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers and a reciprocatable reset member, in combination, individualspring members mounted in said casing including portions in continuousengagement with said composite dial members during computing operationto prevent overrun, and movable engaging members engaging said springmembers for disengaging said spring members from said dial members whenmoved, said reset member being engageable with one of said movablemembers during reset movement to maintain said spring members disengagedfrom said dial members during the reset operation, said spring memberportions automatically returning to engagement with said dial membersupon release by said reset member.

2. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers, and a reset member, in combination, spring members mounted insaid casing each including two diverging legs, each leg continuouslyengaging a composite dial member during use of said calculator, amovable spring release member in said casing in engagement with saidlegs, and actuating means in said casing for moving said spring releasemember energizable by the reset member to release said legs.

3. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers and a reset member, in combination, spring means mounted in saidcasing in continuous engagement with said composite dial members duringcomputing rotation thereof to prevent overrun including for each twocomposite dial members aV spring having two legs, one leg for eachcomposite dial member, and means for automatically releasing said springmeans during use of said reset member including a iirst movable memberengageable with said spring legs and a second movable member engageablewith said iirst movable member, said second movable member beingoperatively movable by said reset member as the latter is moved intoreset relation to said dial members to move the first movable member andto release said spring legs, said reset member maintaining saidreleasing engagement with said second movable member during the resetoperation.

4. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers and a reset member, in combination, spring means mounted in saidcasing normally in continuous engagement with said composite dialmembers to prevent overrun including for each two composite dial membersa spring having two legs, one leg for each composite dial member, andmeans for automatically releasing said spring means during use of saidreset member including an elongated member pivotally mounted in saidcasing and having spaced portions in engagement with said legs, and aslidable member in engagement with said pivotally mounted member.

5. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable tiltedoverlapping composite dial members, and a reset member, in combination,spring members mounted in said casing each including two diverging legs,said legs being in substantially parallel vertically spaced planes, eachleg continuously engaging a composite dial member during use of saidcalculator, a movable spring release member in said casing in engagementwith said legs, and actuating means in said casing for moving saidspring release member energizable by the reset member to release saidlegs.

6. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers and a reset member, in combination, spring means mounted in saidcasing normally in continuous engagement with said composite dialmembers to prevent overrun including for each two composite dial membersa spring having two legs, one leg for each composite dial member, andmeans for automatically releasing said spring means during use of saidreset member including an elongated member pivotally mounted in saidcasing and having spaced portions in engagement with said legs, and aslidable member in engagement with said pivotally mounted member adaptedto pivot said latter member to release all of said spring legs uponmovement thereof in one direction, said reset mem ber being engageablewith said slidable member to pivot said pivotally mounted members in itsreset movement.

7. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers, and a reset member, in combination, spring members mounted insaid casing each including two diverging legs, each leg continuouslyengaging a composite dial member during use of said calculator, amovable spring release member in said casing in engagement with saidlegs, and actuating means in said casing for moving said spring releasemember energizable by the reset member to release said legs, said legsbeing automatically returnable into engagement with said dial membersupon return to rest position of said reset member. Y

8. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers and a reset member, in combination, spring means mounted in saidcasing in continuous engagement with said composite dial members duringcomputing rotation thereof to prevent overrun including for each twocomposite dial members a spring vhaving two legs, one leg for eachcomposite dial member, and means for automatically releasing said springmeans during use of said reset member, said spring legs beingautomatically returnable into engagement with said dial members uponreturn to rest position of said reset member.

9. In a calculator including a casing, manually rotatable composite dialmembers, and a reset member, in combination, spring members mounted insaid casing each including two diverging legs, each leg continuouslyengaging a composite dial member during use of said calculator, amovable spring release member in said casing in engagement with saidlegs, and actuating means in said casing for moving said spring releasemember energizable by the reset member to release said legs, said resetmember being mounted for diagonal and longitudinal movements, a diagonalmovement of said reset member energizing said actuating means, saidreset member remaining in engagement with said actuating means duringreset longitudinal movement to maintain said spring legs released duringreset movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS420,554 Fuller et al; Feb. 4, 1890 431,365 Lang c July 1, 1890 764,068Palmer July 5, 1904 1,348,575 Odhner Aug. 3, 1920 1,985,652 CampbellDec. 25, 1934 2,450,668 Kesling Oct. 5, 1948 2,533,443 Ferbman Dec. 12,1950

